Football / Bristol Rovers Women
Gas Girls manager: ‘This is still going into the unknown’
Bristol Rovers Women’s have so far won four games from four in their first season in the South West Regional League Northern Division as they continue to develop as a club which has so far yet to lose a league game.
Gas Girls manager Nathan Hallett-Young says that he “can’t ask for much more” from his players, but admits that their first season in the sixth tier of the national football pyramid is “going into the unknown”.
After winning promotion from the Gloucestershire County Division One, Rovers are hoping to continue their journey up the leagues with a home match at 2pm on Sunday at Lockleaze Sports Centre against Downend Flyers.
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Speaking to Geoff Twentyman on BBC Radio Bristol, Hallett-Young said that it is “brilliant” how well his young side are so far doing in the SWRL.
“It’s been a positive start,” said forward Zoe Fielden-Stewart, who broke her tibia while playing only her second match for the development squad and on her return to fitness after a year out made it into the first team.
Fielden-Stewart was among the goalscorers as Rovers beat Cheltenham Town Ladies 7-1, the second game in a row where the Gas Girls hit seven following a 7-2 win against Bristol Ladies Union.
Zoe Fielden-Stewart (right) with fellow Gas Girls forward Georgia Vandries in their special Her Game Too away kit- photo: Rich Buchanan
Fielden-Stewart is an example of the possibility for players to come through the ranks at Rovers, who since being reformed in 2019 have seen ten players promoted from the development squad to make their first XI debuts.
“It provides a lot of competition for everybody which obviously is a massive contributor to our success,” said Hallett-Young.
“Because the more competition we can provide through both squads the more that we can hopefully compete against other clubs as well.”
From left to right: Bristol Rovers Women’s captain Natalie Coles, club secretary Matt Davies, manager Nathan Hallett-Young and vice-captain Libby Bell – photo: Rich Buchanan
For Matt Davies, Gas Girls co-founder and club secretary, “it feels so good to be back in the swing of things once again” after a stop-start first two seasons.
Writing in the programme for the game versus Downend, Davies said: “The first-team have taken to life in their new league brilliantly… but knowing the culture within this squad, they won’t be complacent.
“Every game will have its challenges and we are still in the very early stages of the season but it’s obvious to say that it’s been a positive start.”
He added: “Our four vales – community, education, participation and performance) remain at the heart of everything we do at Bristol Rovers Women’s and it’s an honour for us to be working with so many fantastic organisations that fit within our culture.
“I’m delighted to see that this includes our players. They just get it! We have a small army of volunteers who try their hardest to make themselves available for Community Trust events on a regular basis. They’re proud to represent who we are and this fills me with pride.”
Main photo: Rich Buchanan
Read more: New season in new league will be new challenge for Gas Girls
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